CATALOGUE

Thank you for choosing to visit this exhibition – you are most welcome!

Churches and art galleries offer important breathing spaces in busy lives – somewhere to think, rest, and to be.

Please take as long as you like to reflect on these artworks as you make your way around them. And you have plenty of space to sit quietly and think or be prayerful afterwards.

This week, the Cathedral is open from 8.30 am to 8 pm (evening service at 7.30 pm)

The exhibition ends on Good Friday, 3^rd April, in the evening.

The audio guide is available to download before visiting. (This will be announced on our website http://www.facebook.com/artofeaster)

There is no WiFi available at the Cathedral, but nearby cafes and eateries have this facility.

Audio Guide listing is available separately from this catalogue.

The audio guide contains eye witness accounts of the story of the first Easter, as written in the Bible. They are read for us by readers from different churches. Also on the audio guide are some artists’ explanations of why they made their artpiece, together with poems read by their writers.

We hope you will take a moment to comment on your experience of the exhibition in the book at the welcome table.

VISUAL ARTWORKS:

“Gethsemane” – Dot Walker – oils on canvas

“Gethsemane” – clay and wood sculpture Thomas Lacroix

“Cross light” – photo – Hilary Lacroix

“Dyed in the Wool” – Anne Omand – Textile hanging (kindly lent to this exhibition by King’s Fellowship)

“Love, loss, hope” – Karen Beaton – photographs & poem

“Access” – Jeni Bump – acrylic on canvas

After this exhibition, it will be on display in King’s Factory, Smithton.

“3 days later” – Jaclyn Stuart – acrylic on board

 

Video Projection:

“Sarum Cycle”   “Stations of the Cross” – Nicholas Mynheer

“A life of flame” (video) – Heather Gregg

“The folly of God” – Sieger Koder (powerpoint presentation of paintings)

 

Please also take a moment to look at the permanent artworks in the Cathedral. In particular, there are stained glass windows with scenes from the Easter story above the large main altar, at the end of the choir stalls.

 

THE AUDIO GUIDE

 

The audio guide is available in English, French and Spanish.

The main part of the audio guide in Spanish and French are the Bible readings which take us through the Easter story.

 

The English guide features the Bible readings, plus a variety of poems and some of the artists have contributed recordings of their thoughts in making their artwork – together with one exceptional jazz recording.

 

Artists’ Commentaries:

• Anne Omand commentary on her textile piece “Dyed in the wool”
• Karen Beaton commentary on her photos/handwritten poem picture
• “3 days later” – Jaclyn’s commentary on the making of the painting
• Jeni Bump’s commentary on her painting “Access”

 

Music on audio guide:

“To lay down one’s life” by Benje Daneman (used by permission of the artist)

My goal through “To Lay Down One’s Life” was to essentially musically map out the psychological and spiritual path of sacrificial love. As the piece progresses into a stoic call and a confident start, it quickly diminishes into a bit more uncontrolled, off-balanced improvisatory section – representing the sting, loss, turmoil and trials that we eventually feel through our sacrifice. The composition comes to a conclusion as we reach the other side of the valley – a bit beaten and weary from the journey, but wiser, more mature and understanding God and his faithfulness a bit better.

This track was recorded live by Gordon van Gent (GVG Productions) with Benje Daneman (trumpet), Jeremy Siskind (piano) and Andrew Rathbun (sax).

 

Poems:

• “Jesus is Condemned” by Malcolm Guite
• “Only Passing by” by Melanie Kerr – about Simon of Cyrene
• “Love loss hope” by Karen Beaton
• “Justified, the thief on the cross” by John Piper
  

  By John Piper. ©2015 Desiring God Foundation. Website: desiringGod.org.

• “Once before” by Melanie Kerr – a soldier who tortured Jesus dies and meets him in the afterlife
• “Scandal into bling” by Paul Hutchinson – a stark, challenging poem on how an instrument of death penalty has become a piece of jewellery
• “The scars on my heart” by Melanie Kerr – God’s experience of the crucifixion
• “Resurrection” by Melanie Kerr – Jesus prepares to be raised

 

 

BIOS OF THE ARTISTS

 

Anne Omand

Recently took part in one of the largest community arts projects ever in Scotland: as one of the thousand stitchers making the Great Tapestry of Scotland. You can connect with Anne’s other work via:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Anneatcountrybazaar

https://www.facebook.com/countrybazaar

https://www.twitter.com/Countrybazaar2

 

Benje Daneman

The jazz trumpet composition and performance of “To lay down one’s life” is used by kind permission of its composer, Benje Daneman.

See more at: http://www.sparkandecho.org/to-lay-down-ones-life_benje-daneman/#sthash.otjrFoY0.dpuf

Website at: http://www.benjedaneman.com

 

Chris Goan

Chris is a poet based in Dunoon, Argyll. He makes a living through social work, carving wood and writing things. He is part of a group of Christians who go under the name Aoradh (meaning adoration, or worship.) His faith survived Church and thrives in wild places. Chris blogs at www.thisfragiletent.com

 

Dot Walker

Dot is an artist living and working in Inverness. She works mostly in oils and feels enormously privileged to be able to spend time surrounded by God’s creation and in His image to create. She lives with one husband, three children, one dog and one horse. For more information on her work, visit www.dotwalker.co.uk

 

Heather Gregg

Curator of this exhibition, facilitator of a faithwriting group. More details of her ongoing interest in the art and the spiritual at https://reconnected-place.org/

  

Hilary Lacroix

Since childhood I have always loved to use my hands to create, stitch, paint, photograph, build… I’ve been part of L’Arche Inverness since 2000. The gift of L’Arche is to encounter all kinds of people with a great diversity of abilities and backgrounds. God turns up there in some surprising ways, an ever-present companion in my life.

 

Jaclyn Stuart

I am an artist and previous lecturer of Art and Design. I now run a small business teaching art to adults and children in the St Andrews area. My work has developed greatly over the years since leaving Grays school of Art In Aberdeen. I want to create a spiritual dialogue with the viewer, using my art to communicate deep thoughts about life, purpose, existence, God and the unseen.  I love to use symbolism and will paint anything from the human figure to landscape , anything that I find communicates my message effectively. I want to create art that has beauty but also leaves a mark on the  heart. You can view my art work at www.jaclynstuartart.blogspot.com or email Jaclynstuart@hotmail.com for further details.

 

Jeni Bump

My inspiration comes from my walk with God. He speaks to me through dreams and many visual things. When I yield my mind to God in His presence, I see glimpses in picture form. I often journal these spiritual insight’s with paint on canvas and express it using the gifts he has given me in which I feel His pleasure.

Artworks on Facebook page: Jeni Bump, artist

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeni-Bump/284136685025992

 

John Piper

Is a well-known speaker. Also a poet, his works are freely available to read or listen to, on his website: http://www.desiringgod.org/poems/

 

Karen Beaton

I describe myself as ‘one who captures God’s Heart in image and word.’

Official Photographer for Blue Flame, Clan Creative Team, Clan Gathering/Women/Highland and Gathering of the Artisans Europe, where I also teach Prophetic Photography.

God has recently opened doors for me to help the worship leader to lead people into worship with the spoken word. It is an exciting adventure.

I am at present in the process of creating a book of photographs, poetry and testimony. Facebook/Karen Beaton: PUREheaven Photograghs

www.PUREheavenphotographs.jimdo.com

Malcolm Guite

Is a poet, priest, chaplain, teacher, author and singer-songwriter. He has written a series of Sonnets on the Stations of the Cross, and these are available on his blog: http://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/tag/stations-of-the-cross/

One of these readings by the poet has become part of the audio guide for this exhibition. The poem is taken from a book ‘Sounding the Seasons; seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year, Canterbury Press 2012′

 

Melanie Kerr

Melanie Kerr, a local high school teacher, lives with her husband in Inverness, Scotland. She turned her back on a counselling course some twenty years ago and followed her heart to sign up for twelve weeks of creative writing. She has been writing poetry, short stories and devotionals ever since. She published her first collection of poetry “Wider Than the Corners of This World” two years ago and plans to publish a second book of poetry later on in the year. Catch up with her latest thoughts and poetry at http://meljkerr.blogspot.co.uk

 

Nicholas Mynheer

“Rigorous simplicity in stone, oil or glass”. Largely figurative his work is almost always biblically based and has a linear quality that is richly expressive.     http://www.mynheer-art.co.uk/

 

Paul Hutchinson

is a poet, musician, photographer, mediator and film-maker. He is the founder/director of Imagined Spaces, a company specialising in creative community relations. He is the former director of Corrymeela Peace and Reconciliation Centre.

His latest film, “Waiting and Silence”, is a poetic study of silence in the Quaker Tradition (of which he is a part)

He lives by the sea in Portrush, Northern Ireland, with four fabulous females.

For further information, contact imaginedspaces@googlemail.com

 

Sieger Koder

Is a retired priest whose paintings are available as sets of posters, on DVD-rom, in books and postcards. He experienced being a POW in France in WW2, then studied art and taught art for 12 years before studying to become a priest. His work is widely available online.

 

Thomas Lacroix

Born in France, I studied at the Ecole Boulle, Paris.  Paris gave me opportunity to see the most fabulous museums.  I obtained my Masters in Applied Arts in 1995.

My wife and I work for the L’Arche community in Inverness. I am manager of a therapeutic workshop for people with learning disabilities specialising in natural crafts: we design projects and we grow, harvest and transform our materials.

 

I focus my art on reminding us of the kind of serenity we have built and lived in but we hardly notice because of our daily life and busy thoughts. Only years ago I was introduced to prophetic art, opening or completing new horizons.

 

Inspired? Like To Develop Your Own Writing?

You might be interested in:

• A poetry group run by Alison Spriggs, 6pm – 7pm on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month, during term time at Sunset Café on Church Street
• a poetry group at Velocity Cafe on the 1st Thursday of the month at 7pm – 9pm, a lot of students go and it is well attended.
• Breathe Writers, a writing group for writers who would describe themselves as Christian, meets monthly at Breathe Chapel in Merkinch, usually on the first Saturday of the month. More details available from this exhibition curator. (Ask at Welcome Desk).
• Eden Court Arts Centre, has many writing events and a monthly meeting “Poetry for everyone” where people bring in their favourite poems on a chosen topic.
• Moniack Mhor is a nearby writing centre, offering residential and one day retreats and exercises – their brochure is well worth checking out.

 

 

 

How do I understand art?

Some people get worried about this – yet we easily get an instant impression about someone else’s living room the moment we walk in – and whether we like that space or not.

So here is one simple suggestion: you can treat a piece of art like someone’s living room – ask yourself some simple questions: what do you notice?

Other basic questions: is it big or small? what’s the focal point, the main feature you can’t miss. Is it overcrowded or spacious? Simple or full of detail? Is it dark or light?

Then you get into how does it make me feel? What else made me feel that way? Does it remind me of anything?

 

And by the time you’ve thought about this, you will already be engaging with the art.

 

As you leave: please take a moment to write/draw your reactions to the exhibition in the comments book at the Welcome Table!